Sometimes, when you get into higher education you hear things like, "When will I ever need this?". In math there are many opportunities where you can encourage students to think of real-world problems where certain concepts will apply. One way you could have students create their own publishable real-world story problems is by using ToonDoo. Students could make a comic strip about any type of math problem/concept.

Pros: - There are literally hundreds of characters, props, and backgrounds to choose from. - Students can draw on their comic strips to customize their work. - You can add dialogue and thought bubbles. - You can embed, print, or download the cartoon you create.Cons: - Students will need an e-mail and will have to create an account to use this site. You can sign up for ToonSpaces (which you have to pay for). This allows you to create student accounts on your own. - I have had errors with this website (it won't let kids login, it doesn't load correctly) that sometimes take away from the time you need to create a cartoon.

Prezi is a free, online tool that offers a unique way to present information. It allows you to zoom in and out of text, images, and video. As a science teacher I love using Prezi as a "microscope" to zoom in on images (like cells, molecules, and atoms). I can also use it as a "telescope" to zoom out to bigger objects in astronomy. This year I had my students use Prezi to zoom in on different math concepts. They created a Prezi about how to use the Order of Operations when solving a math problem. A student example is shown below.

Pros: - Prezi allows you to zoom in and out of different concepts which is great for visual learners - It is easy to add images, text, and video - You can embed the final project into websites and/or blogs

Cons: - It takes a lot of direct instruction to teach students how to use Prezi - You need and e-mail to create an account